11th Annual ROTARY/One
Chicago Woman of the Year Award Ceremony
The ROTARY/One Chicago Woman of the Year Award Ceremony has drawn between 150 and 250 attendees each year and is a wonderful opportunity to honor special women in the Chicago community, to bring friends and colleagues to a meaningful and uplifting event, and to demonstrate Rotary’s breadth and depth as an organization.
As the world’s first service organization, we realized a while back that we were in a great position to honor people for their service to the Chicago community. In honoring women, we underscore the immeasurable strength that women have brought to the Rotary organization.
Congratulations to the 2024 Chicago Woman of the Year Honorees:
Sandra Blakemore – Chicago Commissioner for the Dept. of Human Resources
Emilia DiMenco – President & CEO, Women’s Business Development Center
Maria L. Torres, MD – Chair Pain Management Service (Ret), Cook County Health
Click here to view the 11th Annual Chicago Woman of the Year PROGRAM.
Criteria for Chicago Woman of the Year Award
How has the candidate distinguished herself in her field of endeavor? Please provide a description of the philanthropic, professional and/or corporate positions, and her accomplishments.
What are the candidate’s credentials/experiences and how does she positively impact the Chicago community?
How will this candidate draw attendance from the Chicago area, via her affiliation with various organizations? List the groups that are likely to send representatives to our event.
Does the candidate exemplify Rotary’s commitment to the Four-Way Test:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
PREVIOUS AWARD CEREMONIES
Chicago Woman of the Year – May 2023
Olena Gordon, President UMANA Illinois
Cassandra Ma, Founder and Executive Director, Reclaim 13
Susana Mendoza, Comptroller, State of Illinois
Chicago Woman of the Year – May 2022
Kelly Fair, Polished Pebbles
Deloris Jordan, The James R. Jordan Foundation
Jennifer Soble, Illinois Prison Project
Chicago Woman of the Year – April 2021
Trish Atha, Ignition Community Glass
Barbara Best, Capital Strategies Investment Group
Hedy Ratner, Women’s Business Development Center
Keynote: Elizabeth Colón, National Association of Women Business Owners
Chicago Woman of the Year – May 2019
Table Sponsors: Bruning & Associates; The Coleman Foundation; Revolution
Rosa Berardi, The Coleman Foundation
Cindy Housner, Great Kajes Adaptive Sports
Terry Savage, Terry Savage Productions
Keynote: Kate Bensen, CEO, The Chicago Network
Chicago Woman of the Year – May 2018
Event Sponsor: Michael Best
Table Sponsors Included: Bruning & Associates; Latham & Watkins; Illinois College of Optometry; John Wilhelm
Yvonne Jones, Jesse White Scholars and Tutoring Program
Amanda Lannert, Jellyvision Lab
Deborah Steiner, RR Donnelley
Public Service Special Recognition: Dr. Janice K. Jackson, Chicago Public Schools
Keynote: Randy Fifield, Fifield Companies
Honorees – June 2016
Table Sponsors included Illinois College of Optometry, Ascend Consulting
Paula Fasseas, PAWS Evelyn Jones, Saint Bernard Hospital Maria Paz Salas, Sacred Heart Chicago
Keynote: Jennifer Jones, Media Street Publications
Honorees – June 2015
Table Sponsors included Easter Seals, Illinois College of Optometry, Primera Engineers, Ascend Consulting
Theresa Mintle, Chamber of Commerce Marcenia Richards, Fierce Women of Faith
Barbara Zawacki, Easter Seals Chicago
Keynote: Evelyn Sanguinetti, LT. Governor
Honorees – June 2014
Table Sponsors included Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Latham & Watkins, Quarles & Brady
Toni Preckwinkle, County Board President Deborah Rickert, Support Our Troops Janice Rogers, Quarles & Brady
Keynote: Theresa Mintle, Chamber of Commerce
PHOTOS FOR THE EVENT
Honorees – June 2013
Table Sponsors included Latham & Watkins, Victoria Brander, Lisa Russ, Gearhart Design
Victoria Brander, Operation Walk Chicago Patricia Jahn, Chicago 502.org Lisa Madigan, Attorney General
Keynote: Diane Primo, Intralink Gobal